Can ‘Float Therapy’ Alleviate Anorexia?

Can 'Float Therapy' Alleviate Anorexia?

Float Therapy: A Unique Treatment for Anorexia Nervosa

Anorexia nervosa, characterized by an abnormally low body weight, intense fear of gaining weight, and a distorted perception of weight, is a serious eating disorder with the highest mortality rate among psychiatric disorders. Traditional treatment for anorexia often involves hospitalization, psychotherapy, medical care for co-morbidities, healthy weight restoration, and support from family and friends. However, a recent small study has revealed a potential supplemental treatment option for individuals with anorexia – float therapy.

Float therapy, a practice in which patients are suspended in a pool of warm, salty water in a soundproof room, offers a unique approach to addressing some aspects of anorexia nervosa. The therapy aims to help individuals with anorexia become more in tune with their body signals by enhancing their interoceptive abilities, which involve sensing and perceiving internal signals from the body. This concept is particularly important for individuals with anorexia as their dysfunctional interoceptive abilities prevent them from accurately attending to and perceiving their bodily experiences.

The study, conducted at the Laureate Institute for Brain Research in Tulsa, Oklahoma, involved 68 women and girls hospitalized for anorexia treatment. Of these participants, 45 engaged in one-hour float therapy sessions twice a week for four weeks, while the remaining 23 served as the control group. Both groups received the standard care for anorexia during the study.

The researchers assessed the impact of float therapy on body dissatisfaction, measured using the Photographic Figure Rating Scale. Participants who underwent float therapy showed significant reductions in body dissatisfaction immediately after each session, as well as during the six-month follow-up period. In contrast, the control group did not experience significant changes in body dissatisfaction levels.

During the study, participants were presented with a series of 10 pictures depicting female bodies ranging from underweight to overweight. They were asked to choose the body silhouette that they believed most closely resembled their current body, as well as the silhouette they would prefer to have. After each float therapy session, participants consistently selected body silhouettes that more closely aligned with their actual body mass index (BMI), challenging their previous perception of their bodies as overweight.

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In addition to reducing body dissatisfaction, float therapy also demonstrated immediate benefits in diminishing anxiety among the participants. However, anxiety levels during the six-month follow-up remained relatively unchanged. These findings suggest that float therapy may offer potential emotional relief and increased body awareness for individuals with anorexia, which could be valuable during their recovery journey.

While the study results appear promising, Dr. Victor Fornari, a child psychiatrist at Northwell Health, emphasizes the importance of continuing usual care for individuals diagnosed with anorexia. Float therapy should be seen as a supplemental treatment rather than a replacement for comprehensive care. Usual care typically involves a multidimensional approach, including nutritional rehabilitation, psychotherapy, medical management of physical complications, and social support.

Exploring the underlying factors contributing to the development of anorexia nervosa, Dr. Fornari explains that it is a complex bio-psycho-social illness with multiple risk, perpetuating, and precipitating factors. These factors can include genetic predisposition, family history of eating disorders or mental health conditions, traumatic experiences, and environmental influences such as family violence or depression.

Float therapy provides an innovative avenue for individuals with anorexia to enhance their body perception and reduce anxiety. By promoting body awareness and facilitating a more realistic perception of their bodies, float therapy has the potential to complement traditional treatments and support patients on their path towards recovery.

For anyone seeking further information on anorexia nervosa, the National Eating Disorders Association is a valuable resource.

Sources: – Sahib Khalsa, MD, PhD, director, clinical operations, Laureate Institute for Brain Research (LIBR), Tulsa, Okla., associate professor, Oxley College of Health Sciences, University of Tulsa, and director, LIBR Float Clinic and Research Center – Emily Choquette, PhD, postdoctoral research associate, LIBR – Victor Fornari, MD, child/adolescent psychiatry, Northwell Health – eClinicalMedicine, Aug. 29, 2023

SLIDESHOW: Eating Disorders: Anorexia, Bulimia, Binge Eating